What If Episode 17 Recap
> What If Recap
Yu Jian returned home late after a client dinner, admitting he'd had a little to drink. He apologized to Xia Guo for the earlier disagreement and presented her with a beautiful preserved flower in a box with a tiny bear, explaining it was from a new flower shop he had designed.
He assured her that he had come to understand her need to pursue her own goals, encouraging her to use the nanny's help and take her time finding a fulfilling job without worrying about his opinion or the finances. Xia Guo was touched by his understanding and thanked him sincerely. However, relying on nannies proved difficult. They had gone through several in just a few days.
Xia Guo recounted one nanny who was cutting her nails while feeding the baby, Chen. Yu Jian suggested his mother could help with childcare, but Xia Guo was hesitant, feeling they shouldn't burden their parents, especially since his mother was also caring for his father. She explained that elderly parents and adult children often have different living habits that could lead to issues if they lived together.
Yu Jian pushed back, suggesting she simply didn't want to get along with his mother and implying their inability to live harmoniously was her fault, contrasting them with other families. Xia Guo brought up her difficult experience during confinement, reminding him how his mother had made things hard for her. Yu Jian acknowledged she was wronged then but argued his mother was just fulfilling her role.
Xia Guo insisted she only wanted to learn from the past and avoid causing trouble for anyone, unwilling to risk their child's well-being. Yu Jian became frustrated, accusing her of being upset that everyone had overlooked her and criticizing her for rejecting all solutions to their childcare problem, including his mother's help, which had left their lives chaotic. During their heated argument, their baby, Chen, fell from the bed. They immediately rushed him to the hospital.
At the hospital, Yu Jian's mother called, worried after hearing sounds from the hospital in the background. Despite her anxiety and offer to come, Yu Jian reassured her everything was fine and they were heading home, ending the call. Xia Guo watched him, feeling guilty about Chen's fall and blaming herself for arguing, but Yu Jian comforted her, saying it was an accident and she was a good mother who worked hard for their family.
He apologized for his harsh words earlier. Thinking about her interview scheduled for the next day, Xia Guo considered canceling, but Yu Jian encouraged her to go, offering to take a half-day off work to stay with Chen. The next day, while Xia Guo went for her interview, Yu Jian was called away by his senior, who sternly criticized him for significant errors in recent design drawings and exceeding the budget, calling his work state muddled due to family issues.
Yu Jian apologized and promised to fix the drawings immediately. Xia Guo returned home to find Yu Jian's mother already there, caring for Chen and tidying up. She told her mother-in-law to rest, but her mother-in-law insisted she was happy to help. Noticing how pale and weak Xia Guo looked, she touched her forehead and discovered she had a fever.
Scolding Xia Guo for being stubborn and not calling her, she urged her to lie down and rest while she made ginger water. She expressed concern that Xia Guo was pushing herself too hard for the interview. Xia Guo shared that she was expecting a job offer next week, which her mother-in-law enthusiastically praised. Meanwhile, in Shanghai, Xia Guo was summoned by Mr. Lu, who introduced her to the new general manager, Mr. Wu Yonghui.
Mr. Lu praised Xia Guo's work and expressed his intention to promote her to Marketing Director before his term as acting general manager ended. Xia Guo accepted the challenge, acknowledging her confidence but also questioning if her experience was sufficient. Mr. Lu stated that Haowei values ability over seniority and was confident she was capable based on her performance and character. Xia Guo accepted the responsibility, and they looked forward to working together.
Separately, Xue Yuming was in communication with someone named Brandon about a job offer from Singapore. Brandon mentioned the chairman who interviewed Xue Yuming was very impressed and wanted him to start soon, suggesting he book his flight. Xue Yuming seemed hesitant, wanting to stay in Shanghai longer to handle unfinished business. Brandon pressed him, emphasizing it was an excellent opportunity for a professional manager who had reached the peak of his current path, and he shouldn't miss it.
He suggested Xue Yuming was reluctant to leave his girlfriend and could even bring her to Singapore later. Xue Yuming admitted he didn't want to regret missing the opportunity but still seemed undecided. Later, Xia Guo and Xue Yuming had dinner together. Xia Guo was in high spirits and revealed her good news: she had been promoted to Marketing Director.
She celebrated her achievement and hinted that her ambitions went beyond a director role, suggesting she might want to be her own boss someday. Xue Yuming agreed that she had great potential and could indeed start her own business, though perhaps not by climbing higher within Haowei, suggesting she just needed the right opportunity, which he could help fund later as part of their plan.
Xia Guo playfully worried about him not being able to find her if she was her own boss, asking who would eat with him and date him. He conceded, saying being Director Xia was good and he was happy with their current life, wanting it to continue. Xia Guo reminded him he had messaged saying he had something to tell her, but he claimed he had forgotten.
Upon returning home, Xue Yuming received a call confirming the Singapore offer had been sent via email. He asked Xia Guo to find his laptop and checked the email. He then admitted the offer had just arrived and he hadn't told her because he didn't want to overshadow her promotion news.
Xia Guo felt she should have been told sooner and apologized for her role in his having to potentially move, suggesting he wouldn't have gone through this trouble if she had left Haowei instead. Xue Yuming insisted his decision to leave was the right one for him and reiterated his idea for their future: she would gain more experience at Haowei, then they would start a business together with his investment, giving her autonomy.
Xia Guo then declared she would go to Singapore with him. Xue Yuming seemed taken aback and hesitant, asking if she really wanted to come. She insisted she didn't want to be separated, but he countered that he was going for work, not leaving her permanently, and travel was easy. Xia Guo didn't want the possibility of a long-distance relationship; she only wanted him by her side.
Xue Yuming expressed confidence in their relationship but cautioned her against making an impulsive decision to follow him right after her promotion. He warned that Singapore might feel new initially but she could get bored and face difficulties finding a job there. He stated he didn't tell her earlier precisely because he feared her impulsiveness. Xia Guo challenged his words, asking if he didn't want her to work in Singapore or didn't want her to follow him.
She stated she wasn't afraid of hard work. She then directly asked him if she was part of his future and if he had thought about marrying her. Xue Yuming evaded the question, saying it was a separate matter he couldn't answer at that moment. Xia Guo pressed for an answer, but he couldn't provide one.
He expressed surprise at her shift in focus, thinking they were both career-driven people, and stated that as a man, she didn't understand his perspective. Sometime later, Xue Yuming was seen in a jewelry store looking at a classic six-prong diamond ring. He left the store and went to Xia Guo's apartment holding a ring box, but she wasn't there. At the same time, Xia Guo was standing outside his apartment.
Her phone rang, showing his name, but she didn't answer, and her phone was off. A voice message from Xue Yuming was later heard: "Guo, the plane is taking off. Take good care of yourself. Wait for my return." It appeared he left for Singapore alone after their argument. Meanwhile, in Leshan, Xia Guo's mother, Wang Yan, was gravely ill.
Mr. Zheng, her stepfather, informed Xia Guo that her mother had been battling an illness for nearly a year, refusing surgery, and the doctors feared she might not make it. Xia Guo rushed to the hospital to be with her mother. Back in her hometown, Xia Guo's mother-in-law continued to help care for Chen daily. Seeing the toll it took on her mother-in-law while her own mother was sick, Xia Guo decided they should move in with Yu Jian's parents.
She told her mother-in-law to take Chen home with her, announcing that she and Yu Jian would pack up and join them. Her mother-in-law was overjoyed at the prospect of having Chen live with them. At the hospital, Wang Yan briefly woke up. She admitted Mr. Zheng had told Xia Guo about her condition despite her wishes. Xia Guo tearfully asked why she had hidden it.
Wang Yan explained it was her destiny, and she didn't want to burden her daughter. Xia Guo was hurt by this, feeling misunderstood. Yu Jian was also present and intervened gently. Wang Yan reflected on her life, stating she had always done what she wanted and had no major regrets, although she wished she had been a better mother and grandmother in her final year.
She asked about Chen, and Xia Guo reassured her he was fine and with her mother-in-law. Wang Yan advised Xia Guo and Yu Jian to not put too much pressure on their lives and careers, reminding them they were young and had a long future. She entrusted Xia Guo to Yu Jian and urged them to raise Chen well together. Wang Yan passed away shortly after. After her mother's death, Xia Guo returned to Leshan.
Mr. Zheng showed her her mother's urn and belongings. He explained that Wang Yan hadn't wanted to burden her daughter who was working hard in Shanghai. He gave Xia Guo a bank card, explaining that her mother had saved the money Xia Guo sent for rent without spending it. He also revealed that Wang Yan had changed the ownership of her house to Xia Guo's name when she became ill, ensuring her daughter had a place.
Xia Guo mourned her mother's sudden passing and wished her mother had shown her feelings or even scolded her before she died. Mr. Zheng tried to comfort her, saying her mother would have been proud of her achievements. Xia Guo questioned what achievements she had, feeling helpless watching loved ones leave. She recalled her mother describing herself as a selfish mother who lived without regret because she made her own choices.
Xia Guo reflected on this, questioning if she and Yu Jian had made the right choices at the crossroads in their own lives, acknowledging they had both followed their hearts. She remembered her mother's advice: no matter the path chosen in life, there might be regrets, but once decided, one must keep going, and it would turn out well. Her mother had told her not to be afraid or regretful. Xia Guo wondered if she would choose the same path if given the chance again, concluding that life has no second chances and they must move forward.
